The world communicates

Questions Dot points and information

What energy •Describe the energy transformations required in one of following – Mobile
transformation telephone, Fax/modem, radio/television
takes place in a
telephone? Mobile phones have a built in microphone that transform sound waves into
electrical signals. The electrical signals are digitised and sent as radio waves to a
How is energy station that consists of antennae.
transformed from a
sending mobile to a In a mobile phone the signal will be sent from one mobile to another by sending
receiving mobile? the signal to a base station. This signal is sent as an electrical signal and is
broadcasted as a radio wave to the receiving mobile vice versa

A fixed telephone sends an electrical signal through a copper wire, when the
signals meets a nearby base station it is then converted into sound-energy.

Identify that waves  Describe waves as a transfer of energy disturbance that may occur in
can transfer energy one, two or three dimensions, depending on the nature of the wave
in a three and medium
dimensional Waves transfer energy not matter
medium. Etc
The source of all waves is a vibration. Waves may travel in one, two or three
Describe the dimensions.
nature of the
medium in which One dimension – A transverse or longitudinal wave traveling in a slinky,
an energy confined to only one dimension ( 1 direction)
disturbance may
occur in a 2nd Two dimension – A transverse wave travelling from a point source of
dimension. disturbance in still water. (2 direction)

Three dimension – A point source of sound, Medium is in the air.

Describe a  Identify that mechanical waves require a medium for propagation
mechanical wave while electromagnetic waves do not
and its need for a Mechanical waves involve a transfer of energy through a medium by the
medium movement of particles. These particles move as oscillations or vibrations.

Identify the type of Electromagnetic waves, such as radio and light, are able to propagate through
medium an the near vacuum of space without a medium
electromagnetic
wave requires
Draw a diagram of  Define and apply the following terms to the wave model: medium,
a longitudinal wave displacement, amplitude, period, compression, rarefaction, crest,
that includes each trough, transverse waves, longitudinal waves, frequency, wavelength,
of the following. – velocity.

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Rarefaction, Medium – Material in which the wave is travelling, air, wood, steel.
compression, Transverse waves – Particles travel at right angles to the direction of transfer
wavelength and
direction of travel. Longitudinal waves – Particles travel parallel to the direction of transfer
(same for
transverse) Compression(Longitudinal wave) – Region of higher density in the medium

Rarefaction(Longitudinal wave) – region of lower density in the medium.

(This is a longitudinal wave diagram)

Displacement – the distance from zero displacement to equilibrium.

Amplitude – The amount of energy a wave is carrying.

Wavelength (λ) – Distance between two corresponding points, trough to trough.

Crest to crest.

Crest – highest point and displacement of a wave

Trough – lowest point and displacement of a wave

Period (T) – Time taken for one wave to pass a fixed point.

Frequency – Number of waves that pass a fixed point in 1 second. Hertz

1
f=
t

Velocity – How fast the wave travels

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Identify the particle  Describe the relationship between particle motion and the direction
motion of a of energy propagation in transverse and longitudinal waves.
transverse wave Transverse waves – The particles of the medium vibrate in a plane that is
(Longitudinal) perpendicular to the direction of propagation

Which of the Longitudinal waves – The particles of the medium vibrate in the same direction
following particle of the propagation of the wave
motions is a
transverse wave eg.
a) Perpendicular to
the medium in
which it is
travelling
b) The same
direction in which
the wave is
propagating
Sample problem 1.  Quantify the relationship between wavelength, frequency and
An off shore swell velocity
consists of waves Velocity = Frequency x Wavelength
with a wavelength Velocity is measured in metres per second
of 10m. The Frequency in HTz
frequency of those Wavelength in Metres/centimetres
waves passing a v =fλ
fixed point was
measured at 0.5
Hertz. What is the
velocity of the
wave motion?
v=fλ
v= 10 x 0.5
v= 5ms

Sample problem 2.
Light, an
electromagnetic
wave, travels at

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3x10^8 ms. What is
the frequency of
green light of
wavelength 550nm
(550 x 10^-9)

Rearrange formula
to make frequency
the subject
F=v/λ
F=
3x10^8/550x10^-9
F= 5.45 x 10^14 HZ

Sample problem 3.
Sound waves at
340 ms in air. The
frequency of sound
coming from an
ultrasound (above
hearing range)
motion detector is
40000 Hz. Calculate
the wavelength of
the sound waves
produced by the
detector.

Rearrange to make
wavelength the
subject
λ = v/f
wavelength =
340/40000
= 8.5 x 10^-3m

Identify that sound  Identify that sound waves are vibrations or oscillations of particles in
waves are a medium
vibrations or All soundwaves are vibrations in a medium that result in pressure variations
oscillations of within the medium. High pressure (Compressions) and low pressure
particles in a (rarefactions)
medium

What is a sound
wave
Draw a diagram of  Relate compressions and rarefactions of sound waves to the crests
a transverse wave and troughs of transverse waves used to represent them

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including a A compression in a transverse wave is also known as the crest.
compression and A rarefaction in a transverse wave is also known as the trough.
rarefaction.
Identify the  Explain qualitatively that pitch is related to frequency and volume to
relationship amplitude of sound waves.
between the The volume of a sound is determined by the amplitude of the sound wave.
loudness of a The pitch of a sound is related to the frequency of a wave.
sound and the
amplitude Large amplitude = Loud sound
High pitch = Higher the frequency (More vibrations per second)
If a sound wave has
a high pitch. What
characteristics will
the amplitude
have?

What is an echo?  Explain an echo as a reflection of a sound wave

An echo is sound reflecting from a surface and bouncing back at you.
What is the result
of a reflection of a
sound wave?
Add the two waves  Describe the principle of superposition and compare the resulting
graphed in figure waves to the original waves in sound
The addition of waves Is called superposition. The superposition principle states
that if two or more waves of the same type pass through the same medium at
the same time, then the amplitudes of the waves add together.
Describe the  Describe electromagnetic waves in terms of their speed in space and
medium in which their lack of requirement of a medium for propagation
an electromagnetic Electromagnetic waves travel most efficiently in a vacuum. These waves travel
wave travels most at the speed of light and can be refracted and reflected. Can carry information
efficiently

What is the speed

of an
electromagnetic
wave in space?

such as codes.
Is a self-propagating wave which changes electric and magnetic fields which
oscillate perpendicular to each other

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Which of the  Identify the electromagnetic wavebands filtered out by the
following atmosphere, especially UV, X-rays and gamma rays
electromagnetic The atmosphere and ionosphere absorb most of the electromagnetic radiation
waveband is not coming from space except for visible light and some high-frequency radio waves
absorbed by the in the microwave region.
earth’s atmosphere
Uv, X-rays and gamma rays are absorbed by the atmosphere and could likely kill
a human. Although Uv rays still penetrate and are the leading cause of cancer

How may a  Identify methods for detection of various wavebands in the

scientist be able to electromagnetic spectrum
detect X-rays? Radio – Radio receivers
Microwave – Aerials, satellites
Infrared – Skin, night-vision goggles
Visible – eyes, Photograph,
UV – Fluorescent chemicals
X-rays – Fluorescent screen
Gamma rays – Geiger counter

Using the inverse  Explain that the relationship between the intensity of electromagnetic
square law, If you radiation and distance from a source is an example of the inverse
were one metre square law
from a light source 1
Iα
where the light d2
intensity was Light intensity is directly proportional to 1 over the distance squared
16000 Lx then: Communication signals from the electromagnetic radio waves begin to decrease
in strength when the signal becomes further away from the source.
At two metres
what would the The Decrease in the strength of the signal or light is known as attenuation.
light intensity be? Light intensity is measured in Lux, Lx
1
× 16000 Lux=4000 lx
22
What is frequency  Outline how the modulation of amplitude or frequency of visible light,
modulation etc? microwaves and/or radio waves can be used to transmit information
A wave that carries exactly the same amount of energy continuously doesn’t
If a wave carries carry information
the exact same
amount of energy To carry information, the wave must vary.
continuously, will it You can either vary in frequency or amplitude.
carry information? Frequency modulation and Amplitude modulation
The process of adding information to an electromagnetic wave is called
modulation

Radio waves – Occupies a bandwidth of frequencies. Information is transmitted

through superposition of a carrier wave

Microwaves – The same principle of modulating applies to microwaves to

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 transmit mobile phones signals and mobile internet services.

Due to the electromagnetic spectrums limitations microwaves are preferred

over radio waves for mobiles due to the wider capacity of bandwidth
What are the  Discuss problems produced by the limited range of the
results of the electromagnetic spectrum available for communication methods
limited range of the A congestion of frequencies. Bandwidth allocations are required
electromagnetic
spectrum for
communication
methods
Draw a diagram  Describe and apply the law of reflection and explain the effect of
representing the reflection from a plane surface on waves
law of reflection The law of reflection states that the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of

What does the law

of reflection state?

Apply the law of

reflection and
describe the result incidence.
of the sunlight When the waves are reflected on a plane surface the reflection is regular.
travelling at an
angle of 45 degrees
to a plane surface

How can light be  Describe ways in which applications of reflection of light, radio waves
used to transfer and microwaves have assisted in information transfer.
energy using the Light - Forms a virtual image of an object placed in front of a plane mirror
law of reflection? - Light can be reflected repeatedly off optic fibre boundaries. (INTERNET)
Radio waves – Radio sky waves bounce of ionosphere
Microwaves – Radar uses microwaves, reflects of object to determine the
distance.

What type of  Describe one application of reflection for each of the following
surface will a car Plane surfaces – Forms a virtual image as the object appears behind the mirror.
headlight have if Used in household mirrors
the reflecting
surface has a focal Concave surfaces – Has a reflecting surface with focal plane
plane Car headlights

Convex surfaces – Has a reflecting surface with a focus behind the mirror.
Jobsite safety mirrors

Radio waves being reflected by the ionosphere – Long wavelength rays reflect

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 well of the ionosphere

Draw a diagram  Explain that refraction is related to the velocities of a wave in different
representing the media and outline how this may result in the bending of a wavefront
refraction of light Refraction – A change in velocity when travelling from one medium to another.
travelling through (Causing change in direction)
water at an angle When travelling into a denser medium it bends towards the medium.
of 40 degrees. When travelling out of a dense medium it bends away from the medium

NOTE – THE ANGLE IS ALWAYS BETWEEN THE RAY AND THE NORMAL.
 Define snells law
Refractive index (n) – a ratio of how much a wave slows down when travelling
from one medium to another
v 1 sini
=
v 2 sinr
V is velocity
I is the angle of incidence
And r is reflected ray
Refractive index will be > than 1 if medium 1 is less dense than medium 2

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 Refractive index will be < than 1 If medium 1 is more dense

 Identify the conditions necessary for total internal reflection with

reference to the critical angle
Total internal reflection occurs when a ray of light attempts to cross into a low
refractive index medium from a high refractive index medium.

When the reflected ray is bent to 90 degrees to the medium this is known as
the critical angle

When the critical angle ray at the interface of the substance is superseded the
interface will act as a mirror and total internal reflection is achieved.

Explain why total  Outline how total internal reflection is used in optical fibres
internal reflection Light from laser transmitted through optical fibres made of pure, bubble free
occurs in optical glass
fibre  Uses total internal reflection where core has higher refractive index and
cladding has lower refractive
index, with an outer plastic sheath to prevent stray light from entering
 Used for: communication by carrying signals precisely – faster than energy
transmission

How does a Global  Identify types of communication data that are stored or transmitted in
positioning system digital form
operate?
Digital communication changes analog signals to binary (1 or 0)
 Amplitude is measured by the binary – in 8-bit processing, amplitude is
broken into 8 sections (0 to 7)

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  Frequency is automatically included – more often oscillation of amplitude =
higher frequency of signal
 Data superimposed on carrier wave then decoded by digital-to-analog
converter (DAC)
 Advantage: if interference occurs, easier to distinguish a pulse or not – easily
removed
o Analog interference more difficult to remove, and retransmission causes
degradation
CDS AND DVDS
 CD (Compact Disc): Plastic, metal coated disc with data stored in pits – lack of
pit is 0
o Light reflected off surface and intensity of reflected light is translated into
electrical signal
 DVD (Digital Versatile Disc): increased storage capacity – pits are smaller and
closer
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
 Telecommunications – use of computers for communication
 Modems (MOdulate and DEModulate) convert digital output from computers
into analog, to be sent over a
telephone line
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
 24 satellites orbiting Earth, emitting microwave signals
o Receiver must be in direct line of sight, and measures distance from satellite
(by checking time)
 In the diagram:
o First satellite positions receiver to a circumference of a circle
o Second satellite positions receiver to two points
o Third satellite positions the receiver to one point

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 Glossary

Amplitude – The amplitude of a wave is measured from the rest position to the top of the crest, or from
the rest position to the trough. Measured in metres

Wavelength – Is measured from crest to crest, or trough to trough. Is measured in metres

1
Period – The time between waves. Measured in seconds. Symbol: T. T=
f
1
Frequency- How many waves pass a specific point in 1 second. Measured in Hertz (Hz) F=
t
Velocity- How fast a wave is travelling. Measured in Metres per second. ms−1

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